After a scrappy start the game was finely poised at 1-1 but but stepped up a gear to seize the points with a ruthless second half display.

BORO went joint top of the Championship as they bounced back from leaking an early opener to dismantle Charlton in a sparkling second half.

Rob Hulse broke free to put the home side ahead but battling Boro clawed level before the as skipper Jonathan Woodgate powered home an emphatic header to claim his first goal for the club.

Then in a polished second period Boro went ahead through Scott McDonald, took complete control with a sublime chip from Emmanuel Ledesma and wrapped it up in stoppage time through Richie Smallwood.

It was the third time in five games Boro had fought back from a goal down to win. It was a sixth successive win all competitions - five league wins and the cup victory at Sunderland - and a sixth win on the bounce away from home. And with leaders Cardiff losing at Bolton it took Boro level with the Welsh side on points at the summit.

Charlton went close in the opening minute as Wright-Phillips got down the right to cross in for Pritchard to come storming in unmarked to power a 12 yard header just over.

Boro responded with a good probe down the right on four minutes as Stuart Parnaby sent Scott McDonald flying forward and he pushed an incisive ball behind the defnce for overlapping Faris Haroun to latch onto but he was just beaten by the outstretched toe of the last man.

Then, on eight minutes, a patient passing move from side to side and back again ended as Haroun played a neat dummy to find space then slotted into the feet of Emmanuel Ledesma but his 20 yard shot flew high over the bar.

And on 10 minutes they threatened again as a neat chip in from the right by Parnaby dropped over the shoulder of McDonald and he shot neatly on the turn but his effort was charged down.

But Charlton took the lead against the run of play on 12 minutes as Josh McEachran lost the ball in the middle and Pritchard seized on it to send ROB HULSE surging forward unchecked to the edge of the box to rifle in a low shot.

They went close again two minutes later as a ball into the box was only half cleared and when Wright-Phillips lashed in the loose ball Jason Steele did well to stretch and push it over.

Then after a slip by Bikey on the edge of the box Jonathan Woodgate - back in the side after three games out injured - made a timely interception to tidy up.

Boro almost broke through on 16 minutes as McEachran and Leadbitter combined to snd McDonald through but the flag was up.

Then on 19 minutes Friend sent Bailey cutting in from the left but his low angled shot from the edge of the box was easily saved by Hamer.

On 24 minutes Friend went on a weaving run to cut in from the left to edge of the box but his final lay-off to Ledesma went astray.

And the determined Boro pressure told as they forced an equaliser on 27 minutes.

Boro won a free-kick wide on the right and near the halfway line after a foul on Haroun and when Leadbitter floated it into the crowd JONATHAN WOODGATE burst unmarked through the crowd to power home a 10 yard header.

It was his first goal in two spells at the club and made him the 16th different goalscorer this term.

Boro continued to press and a series of corners were scrambled away.

Charlton broke out and went close on 36 minutes as a quickly taken throw from the right dropped behind Bailey and alert Wilson nipped in and pumped a first time ball into the box for Hulse to head just over.

Then on 39 minutes Friend was booked for a hefty tackle on Wilson down by the corner-flag and when Pritchard sent the free-kick to the far post Morrison headed just wide.

And on 41 minutes Woodgate was also shown yellow after he first put in a sliding tackle then as the ball rolled loose he put out a hand to stop it. The resulting free-kick flew high over.

Boro threatened just before the break as a Ledesma cross in was deflected behind off Morrison then when Haroun flicked on the resulting Leadbitter corner at the near post the keeper was sent back-pedalling to pluck it out from under the bar.

HT: CHARLTON 1 BORO 1

Boro pressed first after the break on 49 minutes as Parnaby played a quick ball forward for Leadbitter to flick on to the edge of the box where Haroun drilled a shot straight at the keeper.

Then after a good spell of measured possession Ledesma cut in from the left to fire a ball across the face but the keeper was out quickly to collect before Haroun could get a touch.

Charlton could have scored when they broke out to force a corner on 52 minutes. That sparked a furious scramble and first Bailey blocked a goal-bound effort from Wright-Phillips then Dervite scooped the rebound high over.

But Boro were swiftly back on the attack to take the lead on 53 minutes.

A quick ball sent SCOTT McDONALD down the left and he cut in towards the edge of the box then he lashed an angled drive home.

Charlton hit back with a good effort on 62 minutes as a cross was only half-cleared and Wright-Phillips lashed in a low 12 yard effort but Steele saved superbly.

Then Boro broke out to all but seal it with a fine third goal on 63 minutes.

Keeper Steele pumped a long forward and McDonald flicked it on for EMMANUEL LEDESMA to collect, carry forward to the edge of the box then deftly chip over the advancing keeper.

That was Ledesma's first league goal for Boro.

And it was his last contribution to the game. He went off on 66 minutes with fit again frontman Lukas Jutkiewicz coming on.

Boro went close again on 70 minutes as Haroun sent McDonald surging forward but his 20 yard effort brought a good diving save from Hamer.

Charlton went close on 73 minutes after a scramble in the box but Bikey cleared Hulse's goalbound looping header at the far post.

And then on 81 minutes they almost pulled one back as Haynes got free down the left and curled in a ball that bounced through a crowded box and inches wide of the far post.

Boro should have wrapped it up on 84 minutes as Parnaby robbed Kerkar then sent McDonald forward and he squared for unmarked Jutkiewicz 12 yards out and he rifled an uncertain low shot that cannoned back off the foot of the post and flew across the face of goal and away.

In stoppage time Boro put on Justin Hoyte for Haroun and Ricahrd Smallwood for McEachran.

Boro almost got another as Jutkiewicz shot as he slipped on the edge of the box sending the keeper full length to save.

And they were back to grab a fourth goal on 93 minutes, Leadbitter drilling in a shot across the face of goal for RICHARD SMALLWOOD to stab in at the far post - Boro's 17 different goal getter this term.

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